Former captain Zaheer Abbas expressed concern about the current state of Pakistan cricket, stating that its instability is impacting the global cricket economy. He believes that if Pakistan performs well in ICC tournaments, it would improve the sport’s overall financial health.
In recent years, Pakistan Cricket has been among the most unstable boards globally. With every government change, a new chairman is appointed, accompanied by numerous other changes, which have negatively affected cricket in the country.
Once a dominant team, Pakistan has experienced a significant decline, with underwhelming performances in major tournaments and a historic loss to Bangladesh after their group stage exit from the T20 World Cup.
“If Pakistan does well at ICC tournaments, the overall monetary health of cricket will further improve,” Abbas said at the Cricket Predicta Conclave.
The defeat to Bangladesh in the Test series was particularly disheartening, highlighting Pakistan’s weaknesses across multiple areas of the game.
Abbas, famously known as the “Bradman of Asia,” also warned about the threat Test cricket faces with the rise of new formats. At 77 years old, he strongly believes that the longest format is where the true essence of cricket lies, as it tests players’ abilities on multiple levels.
“Cricket has changed. The style has changed. Money has come into the game. Players are happy but they always have to remember that Test cricket is the real cricket. This is how it is known who is how good player. It truly tests the players’ character, resilience, mental strength, and consistency. In such a situation, players should not distance themselves from the basics of cricket, and the one who has the basics can fit in any format,” he added.
Former all-rounder Mudassar Nazar, known as the “Golden Arm,” echoed similar sentiments, stressing the importance of adapting to modern cricket while staying grounded in fundamental skills.
“We have to prepare players for a new kind of cricket, but if we take them away from the basics, they cannot succeed,” he said.
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Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
